A member of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, Shure two years ago announced its goals to increase recyclable and/or renewable packaging for new products. Now, the company has announced that it has achieved its goal to convert to 75 percent by 2023 and is on track to grow to 90 percent by 2025 and 100 percent by 2030 for new packaging.
Key sustainable packaging initiatives include:
- Replacing thermoform trays with more sustainable, recyclable alternatives such as molded pulp.
- Reducing overall plastic materials in packaging.
- Reducing the amount of literature that accompanies the products.
- Right-sizing packaging for greater efficiency and reduced carbon footprint from shipping and storage.
To support these initiatives, Shure’s factories feature recycling programs for cardboard boxes and wooden pallets, keeping additional waste from being left in landfills. Additionally, Shure works with suppliers who have sustainability in their sights, including through the use of solar power and recycled water.
In addition to packaging, Shure products themselves are designed with sustainability in mind. By 2027, more than 100 million AA batteries will have been saved from landfills because of Shure rechargeable batteries. The number is based on data calculations from customers worldwide in music production, theater, touring, education, business, government, houses of worship, and more.
Shure was the first company to offer intelligent lithium-ion batteries for wireless microphones when it was launched nearly a decade ago and it has instantly transformed sound production into a much more environmentally friendly operation. More concert halls, arenas, theaters, meeting rooms, houses of worship, schools and others are rapidly adopting the rechargeable technology.
With previous technology, disposable batteries were used to power microphones and transmitter packs. Audio engineers would frequently replace batteries – even when those batteries still had power – to ensure an uninterrupted performance with fresh batteries.
In the past five years, Shure estimates that it has eliminated nearly 30 million AA batteries from ending up in landfills.
The Company has also engineered its products to help with overall power consumption, using less energy in “down” modes and allowing remote monitoring of power use with Wireless Workbench Software.
A cross-functional Shure team regularly reviews international regulations, directives, and standards to ensure environmental compliance with regulations like RoHS, REACH, and WEEE. The nature of these regulations promotes sustainable electronics and electronics manufacturing.
For more information about Shure’s sustainability efforts, visit Shure’s Sustainability Site, which includes an overview on the Company’s approach to environmental responsibility.
See also: Crestron Partners With SAVe To Further Sustainability Advancements
